Lusail Stadium – tournament stadium description

How was Lusail Stadium built?

The largest stadium of the Qatar World Cup, which will host, among other things, the event's final, was built in Lusail, a new futuristic city under construction north of Doha and essentially a distant suburb of it. The venue itself is less than 20 km from the centre of the capital. An end station of one of Doha's metro lines has been built next to the stadium.

Preparatory work began back in 2015 and actual construction began in spring 2017. The final concept for the stadium was kept secret for a long time and was only presented to the wider public in late 2018, when work was already at an advanced stage. The facility was practically ready at the end of 2021, but the first matches were played there in the summer of 2022.

What are the characteristics of Lusail Stadium?

The stadium has a football-specific layout, with stands located just behind the pitch and surrounding it on all sides. The high stands can accommodate 88,966 spectators, making the venue one of the largest in the Middle East. The auditorium has been divided into only two tiers. A LED screen has been placed in each corner. The grandstands are covered by a vast 45,000 m2 membrane roof, one of the largest of its kind in the world. Among other things, the facility is equipped with a cooling system.

The architectural concept is based on traditional local motifs. The form of the building resembles a traditional bowl, and the triangular patterns on the golden façade and in the colour scheme of the seats were taken from lamps formerly used in Qatar. In addition, the roof membrane has been shaped to create a bird's-eye-view ornament made up of numerous rhombuses.

How will Lusail Stadium be used?

During the World Cup, the stadium will host six group matches, one round of 16, one quarter-final, one semi-final and the grand final of the event. After the tournament, the upper level of the stands will be dismantled and the capacity will be reduced to 40,000 spectators. The venue will be partially transformed into a public facility, housing schools, cafés, shops, clinics, etc.

What matches will take place at Lusail Stadium during the 2022 World Cup?

How Lusail Stadium compares to other World Cup 2022 venues?